Military helicopter fly low over Colombo protests

by Zulfick Farzan 13-07-2022 | 1:33 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Military deployed a military helicopter to circle over the protestors who positioned themselves opposite the Prime Minister's Office in Colombo on Wednesday (13).

Protestors swarmed the areas demanding Ranil Wickremesinghe also resign with Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was expected to step down today.

As President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is not in the country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed to perform and discharge the duties and functions as per the constitution, said Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Wednesday (13) afternoon.

The Speaker said that he was informed about it by the President.

Constitutional Provision cited by the Speaker:

37. (1) If the President is of the opinion that by reason of illness, absence from Sri Lanka or any other cause he will be unable to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of his office, he may appoint the Prime Minister to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of President during such period.

The Prime Minister's Media Division on Wednesday (13) said that Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared Emergency Law as the Acting President and the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister's Media Division said that curfew had been declared for the entire Western Province.

However, The Hindu Newspaper in India reported that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will declare an island-wide Emergency when he becomes acting President, his office said on July 13 although President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is yet to officially resign.

The move came as thousands of angry protesters gathered outside the PM’s office, official and private residences, and several other locations in capital Colombo on July 13 morning.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew to the Maldives with his wife and two personal security officers, early this morning.

The Sri Lanka Air Force said it provided a SLAF plane for the President, the First Lady and Two Security Personnel to leave the country for the Maldives.

The statement said that it was done based on the powers vested with an Executive President, and as per request made by the Government, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Defence.

It added that all Immigration and Emigration, and customs laws were followed when providing the aircraft.